Curated OER
VA Statute for Religious Freedom, II. Matching Activity
Students read and analyze primary source documents. In this matching instructional activity, students read sections of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Students match the document sections with paraphrased sections and discuss...
Curated OER
Debate on Ratification: Should We Ratify the New Constitution?
Students determine whether the Constitution should be ratified. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students research the roles of famous Federalists and Antifederalists in order to prepare them to participate in a classroom simulation...
Curated OER
Opinion Polls And Surveys As Research Tools
Eleventh graders determine, evaluate, and use resources that are most appropriate and readily available for investigating a particular question or topic. Examples include knowledgeable people, field trips, prefaces, appendices,...
Curated OER
What's In a Name?
Students explore onomastics. In this baseball history lesson plan, students create their own team name and explain the name they chose. After choosing a team name students support their choice with revelant reasons and be able to discuss...
Curated OER
The Voting Game
Young scholars examine and discuss the Canadian electoral process. They conduct a simulation of the electoral process, with students running as candidates, holding a convention, campaigning, and voting for Prime Minister of the Day.
Curated OER
The Civil War in Henry County
Middle schoolers consider how the Civil War impacted their community. In this Civil War lesson, students use primary and secondary sources to research the Civil War in Henry County, Georgia. Middle schoolers use their findings to create...
Curated OER
Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Form Follows Function
Students design a chair with function in mind. In this design lesson plan, students design a chair out of newspaper that is strong enough to hold a "peanut ball". Students discuss how the form follows the function. This lesson plan...
Curated OER
Redesigning the Classroom
Students redesign the classroom space. In this geometry lesson, students part take in making classroom rules and assigning value to the space in the classroom. They investigate measuring and problem solving in this lesson.
Curated OER
Debate On Ratification
Students simulate a delegate that was responsible for the Constitution. They research their arguments, and stage a debate in front of the state's legislature (the class). The class then vote whether or not to ratify the new Constitution.
Curated OER
Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 12, Lesson 1 A Struggle for Rights (pp. 270-274)
Fourth graders examine the time period of the 1960's and 70's to have discussions about three different ethnic groups. They examine the issue of discrimination and civil rights. The lesson includes a helpful outline with a hyperlink.
iCivics
I Civics: Persuasive Writing
In this library of mini-lessons, students will learn how to "argue on paper" or write persuasive essays using a fictional case about a school dress code rule against band t-shirts.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Most Nutritious Election
In this lesson young scholars will write a persuasive speech for the Fruit or Vegetable of the Year Award. Nutrition information should be incorporated into this cross-curricular lesson.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: I Have a Dream: Crafting a Persuasive Speech
This PDF lesson plan is for students to use Martin Luther King's famous speech as an example to write their own persuasive speech about an issue of their choice. Students will utilize their knowledge of oratorical strategies to deliver...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Analyzing Famous Speeches as Arguments
This multi-session activity features the opportunity to analyze a variety of famous speeches. Learners will look carefully at tone, rhetoric, propaganda techniques, and historical context as they write an analysis paper....
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Creating a Persuasive Podcast
This lesson unit has students research a local, state, national, or international issue of personal interest and create and share a two-minute persuasive podcast presenting their research-based opinions on the topic. It includes tools...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Exploring Free Speech and Persuasion in "Nothing but the Truth"
Contains plans for five lessons that use Avi's "Nothing But the Truth" to teach about free speech and give students an opportunity to develop persuasive arguments. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Developing, Writing, and Evaluating Persuasive Speeches
Contains plans for four lessons that teach students how to make and present strong persuasive speeches. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well as assessment...
Love To Know Media
Your Dictionary: Writing the One Minute Persuasive Speech
This article focuses on writing a one-minute persuasive speech force students to be clear and concise and to hone debate skills. From there it suggests the use of improvisation speeches.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Guilty or Innocent
A writing lesson using the R.A.F.T. model and the short story "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst. Students take on the role of attorneys and write persuasive speeches for the jury proclaiming the narrator's guilt or innocence.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Persuasion Rubric
A printable four-point rubric to use when assessing a persuasive piece with a focus on organization, a goal or thesis, reasons/support, audience, word choice, visuals/delivery, and grammar/usage/mechanics. Directions on how to use this...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Types of Writing: Expository Writing
This lesson focuses on expository writing including definition and characteristics. It provides links to the Discovery Education video: "An Unsinkable Essay," "Expository Essays," "What is Expository Writing?" "Types of Informative...
wikiHow
Wiki How: How to Write a Persuasive Speech
Learn how to write a persuasive speech in three parts: Preparing to Write, Writing you Speech, and Delivering your Speech. A video [1 min, 43 secs] and writing tips are also provided.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gettysburg Address [Pdf]
"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln is one page, non-fiction speech given at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1963. It is followed by an assignment asking students to...